Driver of snow-removal truck that fatally struck pedestrian in NDG never saw him coming, owner's wife says

The driver of the truck that fatally struck a 50-year-old man had just started his shift and was going 20 km/h, according to the wife of the owner of the company.

• Side guards, other safety measures for snow trucks don't apply to private contractors

Nancy Boisier, whose husband owns Transport E Racine, a trucking company based out of Laval, said the driver "never saw the pedestrian." 

"The windows were clean, the truck has good visibility, we think the person must have slipped," she said.

"The side guards would not have made a difference."

The accident happened shortly after midnight on Girouard Avenue south of Sherbrooke Street.

Montreal police said it appears the pedestrian was struck while the truck was turning left onto Girouard.

Investigators were still trying to determine who had the right of way, or whether the man had crossed at the intersection.

The company was clearing highway ramps on contract with Quebec's Transport Ministry.

Fateful anniversary

The accident comes 11 years ago to the day after another pedestrian, Jessica Holman-Price, was killed by snow-clearing truck in neighbouring Westmount.

Price slid under the wheels of a snow removal truck at the corner of Strathcona and Sherbrooke Streets. Her brother was seriously injured in the incident.

Her mother, Jeanette Holman-Price, has been trying to make heavy trucks safer ever since, arguing they should be required to have side guards to keep pedestrians and cyclists from slipping under the wheels.

It's not clear whether side guards would have made a difference in Monday's accident.

Tougher legislation?

Saint-Laurent borough mayor Alan DeSousa has previously called on the province to take steps to make snow-removal trucks safer.

Side guards have been installed between the front and rear wheels of the City of Montreal's fleet, as well as on trucks operated by Beaconsfield, Westmount and Dorval as a direct result of Holman-Price's death.

But despite official fleets having the side guard rails, private contractors aren't held to the same standard.

"Citizens need to let their elected representatives know that they want this," he told CBC Montreal's Daybreak.

Transport Minister Laurent Lessard will discuss the issue as part of a series of public consultations in January.

DeSousa hopes these consultations will lead to province-wide legislation.

Beyond side guard rails, he said mirrors, flashing signs and cameras would all help make trucks safer.